JP3127782B2 - Optical printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical printer used for, for example, a color video printer and the like, and more particularly to an optical printer capable of freely switching a plurality of types of filters for a common light source. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the structure of an optical printer proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-276234. The fluorescent light emitting tube 100 as a light source has an envelope 103 formed by sealing a box-shaped container 102 on a translucent substrate 101. The inside of the envelope 103 is evacuated to a high vacuum state.

[0003] On the inner surface of the substrate 101, a light-emitting portion formed by attaching a phosphor layer to an anode conductor is formed. The phosphor layer is made of a ZnO: Zn phosphor. Each light emitting unit is composed of a plurality of light emitting dots arranged at a predetermined pitch along the main scanning direction. The light emitting unit is 200
(R), 200 (G), and 200 (B) are provided.

In the envelope 103, each of the light emitting units 2
A plurality of second control electrodes 104 divided for each light emitting dot are provided below 00 (R, G, B), and a common electrically integrated common electrode is provided below the second control electrode 104. First
A control electrode 105 is provided. A linear cathode 106 is provided below the first control electrode 105 along the main scanning direction for each light emitting unit 200 (R, G, B).

On the outer surface side of the substrate 101, a red filter r is provided facing the light emitting portion R, a green filter g is provided facing the light emitting portion G, and a blue filter b is provided facing the light emitting portion B. Are provided to extract three primary colors of red, green, and blue from the light emission of the phosphor layer. The emission spectrum of ZnO: Zn is green with a peak wavelength of about 505 nm,
Since there is a very wide range of about nm to 640 nm, the three primary colors of red, green, and blue can be extracted by the red, green, and blue filters r, g, and b.

A total of three lens systems 1 are provided adjacent to the respective filters r, g, b provided in the fluorescent tube 100.
07 is provided. Each light emitting unit 200 (R, G, B)
The light from each light emitting dot passes through each of the red, green, and blue filters r, g, and b, passes through a lens system 107 provided for each of the filters, and passes through a predetermined portion of a film 108 as a writing object. Collected in position.

The fluorescent tube 100 and the lens system 10
The print head 7 can be moved in the sub-scanning direction by a driving mechanism (not shown).

To drive the optical printer, each light emitting unit 200 in the fluorescent light emitting tube 100 of the print head is used.
The (R, G, B) light emitting dots are sequentially scanned, and a positive print signal is applied to the second control electrode 104 corresponding to the light emitting portion in synchronization with the scanning. A positive voltage is constantly applied to the first control electrode 105 to accelerate the electrons, thereby preventing the second control electrode 104 to which a negative voltage is applied corresponding to the non-light emitting portion from missing characters.

A fluorescent light emitting tube 100 in a print head
The print head is moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow in accordance with the light emission driving of
08 at the same location. A desired color image is formed on the film 108.

[0010]

According to the above-described conventional optical printer, the three-line light emitting section 200 (R, G,
B) The filters r, g, and b are fixedly provided in
In this configuration, light of primary colors is obtained. However, if each light emitting unit is close to each other, light enters a filter of an adjacent light emitting unit and causes color mixing. For this reason, the distance between the light emitting units must be set to a size that does not cause color mixing, and there is a problem that there is a limit in shortening the distance between the light emitting units and reducing the size of the fluorescent light emitting tube. . In addition, since the distance between the light-emitting portions is large, the light from the light-emitting portions of three lines cannot be imaged by one optical system. Therefore, an optical system must be provided for each line. However, there has been a problem that the production is difficult and the production cost is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical printer which has a small number of parts, is small in size and light in weight, and can be inexpensive, and a print head used in the optical printer.

[0012]

An optical printer according to claim 1, wherein a light source and a plurality of filters selectively set in a light emitting portion of the light source by moving in a predetermined direction with respect to the light source. A print head having: a moving means for moving the print head in the predetermined direction; and a filter for moving the filter in the predetermined direction by contacting the print head moved by the moving means, so that the desired filter is moved to the light source. An abutting portion for setting, and in an optical printer that performs writing on an object to be written with light, the print head is provided with a filter holder that holds the filter and the light source, and the filter holder is A base having an engaging guide groove formed therein and guides the filter holder in the sub-scanning direction provided on both edges of the guide groove; A pair of guide means, and a notch portion for selectively engaging one of the guide means is formed on an edge of the filter holder facing one of the guide means. .

An optical printer according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
2. The optical printer according to claim 1, wherein the print head has a reset mechanism for returning the filter moved to the other end of the moving range of the print head to an original position.

An optical printer according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
A print head having a light source and a plurality of filters selectively set in a light emitting portion of the light source by moving in a predetermined direction with respect to the light source; moving means for moving the print head in the predetermined direction; An abutting portion that abuts on the print head that is moved by moving means, moves the filter in the predetermined direction, and sets the desired filter as the light source, and writes light on the object to be written with light. In a printer, the print head comprises:
A filter holder that holds the filter, a base provided with the light source, and a guide groove portion with which the filter holder is movably engaged in the sub-scanning direction; and a filter rotatably provided on the base. A ratchet mechanism having guide pins on the surface for selectively switching between the two, and a rod-shaped mechanism provided on the base so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, and rotating the ratchet mechanism when moved in the sub-scanning direction. And an elongated hole formed in the filter holder along the main scanning direction and engaged with the guide pin.

An optical printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises:
2. The optical printer according to claim 1, wherein said moving means is provided so as to be capable of circulating and moving along said predetermined direction, and circulates through said endless long body partly connected to said print head. And a driving means for driving.

A print head according to claim 5 is
In a print head of an optical printer that performs writing on a body to be written with light while moving in a predetermined direction by a moving means, a base, a light source provided on the base, and a movement with respect to the light source in the predetermined direction. When the substrate is moved in the predetermined direction by the moving means, the substrate is moved in contact with a part of the optical printer and is selectively set to a light emitting portion of the light source. And a plurality of filters.

[0017]

The print head is moved in a predetermined direction by the moving means and hits the contact portion. In the print head, the filter moves in a predetermined direction, and sets a desired filter to the light emitting portion of the light source. Light from the light source passes through the filter and reaches the object to be written.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The optical printer 1 according to the first embodiment includes a fluorescent light emitting tube 2 as a light source and three switchable filters R,
The light of the three primary colors obtained from G and B is used to write on the color film 3 as the object to be written, thereby forming a full-color image. For example, this optical printer 1
It is driven by a digital color image signal obtained from a video device and can be used as a color video printer for printing a video image on a color film 3.

The optical printer 1 of this embodiment has a print head 4 as shown in FIG. The print head 4 has a substrate 5 that moves in the sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow with respect to the color film 3 as a writing target set at a predetermined position. A fluorescent light emitting tube 2 as a light source, three filters R, G, and B that can be switched with respect to the fluorescent light emitting tube 2, and a lens 6 at a position corresponding to a light emitting unit of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 are provided on the base 5. Single optical system 7 including
Is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 8 in the lower half of the optical printer 1 has a substantially rectangular dish shape in plan view.
A pair of guide rods 9 serving as guide members are provided on the inner bottom of the housing 8 in parallel with each other along a pair of long sides. The base 5 is a substantially rectangular plate-like body, and the guide bars 9, 9 are slidably inserted through sliding portions 5a, 5a provided on a pair of short sides, respectively. The direction in which the substrate 5 moves along the guide bar 9 is parallel to the sub-scanning direction when writing on the color film 3 with dot-like light. As shown in FIG. 4, a mounting hole 10 is provided through substantially the center of the base 5. A fluorescent light emitting tube 2 to be described later is attached to the attachment hole 10, or a filter holder is movably attached. Further, a guide groove 11 for guiding the filter holder is provided continuously to the mounting hole 10 and reaches one edge in the moving direction of the base 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a motor 12 as a means for moving the base 5 is mounted on the inner bottom of the housing 8. The motor 12 is provided near one end of one of the guide rods 9 outside the moving range of the base 5. The drive shaft of the motor 12 is orthogonal to the guide rod 9, and a drive pulley 12a is attached to the drive shaft. A driven pulley 13 is rotatably mounted via a jig near the other end of one guide rod 9 outside the moving range of the base 5. The rotation axis of the driven pulley 13 is parallel to the drive axis of the motor 12. The driving pulley 12a and the driven pulley 13
Is being wrapped around. The upper part of the drive belt 14 is fixed to the upper surface of one of the sliding parts 5 a of the base 5. When the motor 12 is driven to circulate the drive belt 14, the base 5 fixed to the drive belt 14 is guided by the guide rod 9 and moves in the sub-scanning direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, a fluorescent tube 2 as a light source is attached to the base 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the fluorescent light-emitting tube 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped envelope 17 formed by sealing a box-shaped container portion 16 to a translucent rectangular substrate 15. The inside of the envelope 17 is evacuated to a high vacuum state. Further, the container 16 is provided with a shielding film for shielding external light from entering, thereby preventing flare.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inner surface of the substrate 15
A light emitting portion 18 is formed in which a number of light emitting dots are arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 15. The light-emitting dots constituting the light-emitting portion 18 include dot-shaped anode conductors provided in a row on the substrate 15 and a phosphor layer attached to each anode conductor. The anode conductor of each light-emitting dot is independently drawn out of the envelope, and a driving signal is applied independently to enable static driving. The phosphor layer of each light emitting dot is made of ZnO: Zn phosphor. Zn
Since the emission spectrum of the O: Zn phosphor has a very wide range, three primary colors of R, G, and B can be extracted by using red, green, and blue filters. The direction in which the light emitting dots are arranged in the light emitting section 18 is parallel to the main scanning direction when writing is performed on the color film 3 with dot light.

In the envelope 17, on the substrate 15 on both sides of the light emitting section 18, strip-shaped planar control electrodes 19, 19 made of an aluminum thin film or the like are provided. When the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 is driven, a positive voltage is applied to the flat control electrode 19 to attract electrons to the light emitting unit 18. Inside the envelope 17, a linear cathode 20 as an electron source is provided below the light emitting section 18 along the main scanning direction.

The fluorescent light-emitting tube 2 having the above structure is attached to the mounting hole 10 of the base 5 from the housing 8 with the substrate 15 provided with the light-emitting portion 18 facing the base 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the base 5 is provided with a filter holder 21 which can be moved relative to the fluorescent tube 2 in the sub-scanning direction.
The filter holder 21 includes a rectangular main body 22 slidably engaged with the mounting hole 10 of the base 5, and a guide groove 1 of the base 5.
1 is a member integrally formed with a rectangular abutting piece 23, and has a substantially L-shape as a whole. The filter holder 21 includes the mounting hole 10 of the base 5 and the guide groove 1.
1 can be moved in the sub-scanning direction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, at one edge of the guide groove 11 of the base 5, two fixed bearings 24 as guide means are provided rotatably at predetermined positions.
The other end of the guide groove 11 of the base 5 facing the two fixed bearings 24 has a movable bearing 2 as a guide means.
5 are provided. The movable bearing 25 includes the support shaft 2
6 is rotatably provided at the upper end. The support shaft 26 is attached to the base 5 at an intermediate portion with a shaft 27, and is rotatable within a plane parallel to the main scanning direction within a predetermined rotation range. The lower end of the support shaft 26 projects downward from the lower surface of the base 5. A spring 28 as an urging means is provided inside the base 5 and is held by a holding screw 29. A portion above a shaft 27 of a support shaft 26 provided with a movable bearing 25 is moved toward the filter holder 21 side. It is urging towards.

The abutment piece 23 of the filter holder 21
Fixed bearing 24 provided in guide groove 11 of base 5
And is guided in the sub-scanning direction by being sandwiched by the movable bearing 25. A projection 30 is provided on the lower surface of the abutting piece 23. The projection 30 extends downward from the lower surface of the base 5 through a through-hole 31 provided in the guide groove 11 of the base 5. A spring 32 is provided between the lower end of the projection 30 projecting below the base 5 from the through-hole 31 and the axis of the fixed bearing 24 as a biasing means. The spring 32 urges the filter holder 21 in a direction in which the abutting piece 23 projects outward from the guide groove 11. Notches C1, C2, and C3 are formed at three locations on the edge of the abutting piece 23 on the movable bearing 25 side. The movable bearing 25 has these notches C1, C2, C
3, and the filter holder 21 is selectively set to one of three positions with respect to the base 5.

In the main body 22 of the filter holder 21, three grooves are formed so as to penetrate in parallel with the main scanning direction. A red filter R, a green filter G, and a blue filter B are attached to each groove. The distance between the filters R, G, B or each groove in the sub-scanning direction is determined by the notches C1, C2, C formed on the abutment piece 23 of the filter holder 21.
This corresponds to an interval of 3. Each of the filters R, G, and B has the same length and direction as the light emitting portion 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2. Then, at three positions where the filter holder 21 is selectively set, each of the filters R, G, B
And the position of the light emitting part 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 coincides with the position of the light emitting part 18.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a contact portion 33 that contacts the abutting piece 23 of the moving print head 4.
Is installed at a predetermined position on the inner bottom of the housing 8. The contact portion 33 according to the present embodiment is formed separately from the housing 8 and is a substantially L-shaped sheet metal fixed to the housing 8. When the base 5 of the print head 4 is moved and the abutment piece 23 of the filter holder 21 abuts against the contact portion 33, the filter holder 21 moves in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the base 5, and a desired filter is moved. It can be positioned at the light emitting section 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a locking piece 34 that engages with the lower end of the support shaft 26 of the movable bearing 25 of the moving print head 4 is installed at a predetermined position on the inner bottom of the housing 8. Have been. The locking piece 34 according to the present embodiment is formed separately from the housing 8 and is a sheet metal fixed to the housing 8. When the base 5 of the print head 4 is moved away from the contact portion 33 and the support shaft 26 of the movable bearing 25 is engaged with the locking piece 34, the support shaft 26 rotates about the shaft 27. , The movable bearing 25 is the filter holder 21
Away from the notches C1, C2, C3. As a result, the filter holder 21 moves toward the contact portion 33 by the urging force of the spring 32, and the movable bearing 25 engages with the notch C1 farthest from the contact portion 33. In this embodiment, this position is called a reset position. At the reset position shown in FIG. 4A, the red filter R is set for the light emitting unit 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2.

Although not shown, the casing 8 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is combined with an upper half casing having a storage portion for holding the color film 3. The storage and holding section for the color film 3 has a mechanism for holding the loaded plurality of color films 3 at a predetermined position and discharging the color film 3 that has been written by light to the outside.

Next, a procedure for forming a full-color image on the color film 3 using the optical printer 1 of this embodiment will be described. The fluorescent light emitting tube 2 is driven based on each image signal of an image separated into three primary colors, and the print head 4 is moved in the sub-scanning direction in synchronization with the driving. At this time, the light emitting portion 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 of the print head 4 has a primary color filter (R
Or, G or B) is set. The above operation is performed for each of the three primary colors, and the three images separated into the three primary colors are overwritten on the photosensitive surface of one color film 3.

At the start of the above operation, regardless of the position of the print head 4, the "reset" operation shown in FIG. 6 is first performed, and the print head 21 is moved to the position where the filter holder 21 is set to the reset position. Move and set 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, first, the print head 4 is set at a position farthest from the contact portion 33 within the movement range (hereinafter, referred to as a start position). The support shaft 26 of the print head 4 engages with the locking piece 34 and rotates about the shaft 27, and the movable bearing 25 is attached to the filter holder 21.
Away from the notch C2 or C3. Filter holder 2
1 is set to a reset position by a spring 32, and a red filter R is set in the light emitting portion 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the fluorescent film 2 is driven by a drive signal corresponding to a red image while the print head 4 is moved toward the contact portion 33 in the sub-scanning direction.
Is exposed by the red filter R.

After the exposure by the red filter R is completed, as shown in FIG.
When the filter holder 21 is moved toward the notch C1, C2, and C3 by the distance between the notches C1, C2, and C3, the filter holder 21 abuts against the contact portion 33 and moves in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the base 5, and the movable bearing 25 The green filter G is set in the light emitting portion 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 in the engaged state. The print head 4 is returned to the start position, and while moving the print head 4 toward the contact portion 33 along the sub-scanning direction, the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 is moved.
Is driven by a drive signal corresponding to a green image, and the color film 3 is exposed by a green filter G.

After the exposure by the green filter G is completed, as shown in FIG.
When the filter holder 21 is moved by twice the distance between the notches C1, C2, and C3, the filter holder 21 abuts against the contact portion 33, moves in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the base 5, and the movable bearing 25 The blue filter B is set in the light emitting portion 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 by engaging with C3. The print head 4 is returned to the start position, and the fluorescent film 2 is driven by a drive signal corresponding to a blue image while moving the print head 4 toward the contact portion 33 along the sub-scanning direction. Is exposed to the blue filter B. By the above operation, a full-color latent image is formed on the color film 3.

According to the optical printer 1 of this embodiment, the three filters R, G, and B are switched with respect to the single light emitting portion 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2.
Switching between G and B is performed using the driving force of the moving mechanism of the print head 4. Therefore, since there is no need to provide the light emitting section 18 for each of the three primary colors, the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 can be reduced in size, and there is no need to provide a special drive mechanism for switching the filters R, G, and B. There is an advantage that only one system 7 is required.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The optical printer 41 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the switching mechanism of the filter holder 42.
Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment in terms of functions. For the sake of simplicity of description, portions that are the same or substantially the same in function as the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the filter holder 42 of this embodiment is a substantially T-shaped member comprising a main body 43 and an abutting portion 44. The butting portion 44 is provided with a ratchet mechanism so that the three filters R, G, and B can be selectively set in the light emitting portion 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2.

A rod-shaped operating body 46 is provided on the base 5 of the print head 45 so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction. One end of the operating body 46 faces the contact portion 33 outside the base 5. The other end of the operating body 46 is
Is inserted through the spring stopper 47 provided at the bottom. Operation body 46
A rectangular tubular locking body 48 having an open top and bottom is externally inserted at a substantially middle portion of the body, and is swingably connected to an operation body 46 by a shaft 49. The locking body 48 has a half portion with respect to the axis of the operation body 46 protruding to one side, and the portion is a locking claw 48a. A spring 50 is externally inserted into the operating body 46 between the shaft 49 of the locking body 48 and the spring stopper 47.

A ratchet wheel 51 is rotatably supported on the base 5. On the lower surface of the ratchet wheel 51, three locking pins 52 are attached downward at intervals of 120 ° in the rotation direction. These locking pins 52 engage with locking claws 48a of the locking body 48 as the operating body 46 moves. Ratchet wheel 5
A notch 53 is formed at a position corresponding to each locking pin 52 on the periphery of the first pin 1. One end of a leaf spring 54 is fixed to the base 5. The other end of the leaf spring 54 is in contact with the peripheral edge of the ratchet wheel 51 and engages with each of the notches 53. On the upper surface of the ratchet wheel 51, a guide pin 55 is attached upward at a position corresponding to one of the three locking pins 52. The filter holder 42 is provided with a long hole 56 that is long along the main operation direction. The guide pin 55 is engaged with a long hole 56 of the filter holder 42.

According to the above arrangement, the print head 4 is moved in the sub-scanning direction from the position shown in FIG.
When the operating body 46 is brought into contact with the lock 3, the operating body 46 is pushed in against the urging force of the spring 50, and the locking claw 48 of the locking body 48 is pressed.
a engages with the locking pin 52 of the ratchet wheel 51 to rotate the ratchet wheel 51 by one stroke (120 °), and the leaf spring 54 engages with the next notch 53 to set the ratchet wheel at a new position. 51 is fixed. The filter holder 42 linked to the guide pin 55 of the ratchet wheel 51 moves in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the base 5, whereby the filter (R, G, or B) set in the light emitting unit 18 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 is moved. ) Switches. After the switching, the operating body 46 returns to the original position by the urging force of the spring 50. However, since the locking body 48 can swing about the shaft 49, it does not catch on the locking pin 52 of the ratchet wheel 51.

According to the present embodiment, since the position of the filter holder 42 is continuously switched with the rotation of the ratchet wheel 51, there is no need to perform a reset operation at the beginning of the operation as in the first embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG.
After exposure by the filters R, G, and B of each color, the stroke for moving the print head 45 to switch the filters is constant. By repeating this same stroke, the position of the filter holder 42 is sequentially switched, and after three reciprocations, the filter returns to the first red filter R.

In each of the embodiments described above, the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 is used as a light source, but any other light emitting element can be used as the light source regardless of the light emitting principle. When a fluorescent tube is used, it goes without saying that the specific internal electrode structure is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the light emitting unit 1 as an anode
Reference numeral 8 is not limited to one in which light-emitting dots are arranged in a line, and light-emitting dots arranged in a staggered manner may emit light at a predetermined light-emission timing, and dot-shaped light may reach one line. Alternatively, three or more rows of light emitting dots may be arranged so as to be shifted by a dot pitch in the longitudinal direction of the row. In addition, the electron emitting portion serving as the cathode is not limited to the filament-shaped cathode,
A field emission device may be used.

In each of the embodiments described above, the motor 12 and the drive belt 14 driven by the motor 12 have been described as the moving means for moving the print heads 4 and 45 in the above embodiment. Can use other power sources and power transmission mechanisms. Also,
The moving means does not necessarily need to be provided outside the print heads 4 and 45. For example, the print heads 4 and 45 may be provided with a self-propelled mechanism as the moving means.

In each of the embodiments described above,
Move the print heads 4 and 45, and
A part of the filter R,
G and B were switched. However, this contact part 3
The filter holder 3 does not necessarily need to be provided separately from the housing 8 or the like, but simply contacts at least a part of the moving filter holders 21 and 42, and makes contact with the base 5.
Any member / part having an action / function of relatively moving the member may be used. For example, a configuration may be employed in which a part of the housing 8 corresponds to the contact portion 33 in the above-described embodiment.

In each of the embodiments described above,
The contact portion 33 is provided only in one of the moving directions of the print heads 4 and 45. However, the contact portion 33 is provided in both directions, and the filter switching direction when the print heads 4 and 45 are brought into contact with one and the print The switching direction of the filter when the heads 4 and 45 are brought into contact may be reversed.

In each of the embodiments described above,
Although writing is performed on the color film 3, the object to be written is not limited to the color film, and any other recording medium that can perform recording with light can be used.

In each of the embodiments described above,
To expose color film 3 with three primary colors,
Although filters R, G, and B of three colors of blue are used, the type of the filter can be arbitrarily determined according to the type and property of the object to be written and the property of light emitted from the light source. For example,
Even when a color film is used, the spectral sensitivity of the film is different if the type and manufacturer of the film are different.
In such a case, it is also possible to prepare a plurality of filters of the same color in advance and switch to a filter suitable for the spectral sensitivity of the film to be used.

Further, it is also possible to set the switching position of the filter holder to four or more and provide an open window without a filter other than the RGB filter and use it for inspection. Further, the light source may be completely shielded at a part of the switching position, and this position may be a position for preventing fogging of the film due to light emission of the light source.

[0051]

According to the optical printer of the present invention, a plurality of filters can be freely switched for a common light-emitting portion,
Since the switching is performed using the moving means of the print head, the number of light emitting units and the optical system of the light source can be reduced from a plurality of conventional ones to one, and the print head can be reduced in size and weight. Therefore, the drive source used for the moving means of the print head can be reduced in size and power consumption. Further, since the power for switching the filter is also used as the moving means of the print head, the above effect can be achieved without introducing any new parts. From these facts, it has been possible to provide an optical printer which has a small number of parts, is small, lightweight, and inexpensive, and a print head used for the optical printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a print head according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the optical printer according to the first embodiment. (B) is sectional drawing in the BB cutting line of (a).

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 (a).

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration and operation of a print head according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the print head according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a movement state of a print head according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration and operation of a print head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism for moving a filter holder in a print head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a movement state of a print head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional optical printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 41 Optical printer 2 Fluorescent tube as light source 3 Color film as object to be written 4, 45 Print head 12 Motor as drive means constituting moving means 14 Drive belt as endless elongated body constituting moving means Reference Signs List 25 Movable bearing constituting reset mechanism 26 Support shaft constituting reset mechanism 27 Shaft constituting reset mechanism 28 Spring constituting reset mechanism 33 Contact part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-134624 (JP, A) JP-A-61-294966 (JP, A) JP-A-62-194216 (JP, A) 196878 (JP, A) JP-A-5-122442 (JP, A) JP-A-3-87271 (JP, A) JP-A-1-57856 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/44 B41J 2/45 B41J 2/455 H04N 1/036 H04N 1/23 103

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print head having a light source and a plurality of filters selectively set in a light emitting portion of the light source by moving the light source in the predetermined direction, and moving the print head in the predetermined direction. A moving unit; and a contact unit that contacts the print head moved by the moving unit, moves the filter in the predetermined direction, and sets the desired filter to the light source. In the optical printer performing writing in the above, the print head, a filter holder holding the filter, the light source is provided, a base having a guide groove portion with which the filter holder is formed, and a base of the guide groove portion A pair of guide means provided on both edges to guide the filter holder in the sub-scanning direction. The optical printer to edge of the filter holder, characterized in that notches for one selectively engaged in said guide means is formed of. 2. The optical printer according to claim 1, wherein the print head has a reset mechanism for returning the filter moved to the other end of the movement range of the print head to an original position. 3. A print head having a light source and a plurality of filters selectively set in a light emitting section of the light source by moving the light source in the predetermined direction, and moving the print head in the predetermined direction. A moving unit; and a contact unit that contacts the print head moved by the moving unit, moves the filter in the predetermined direction, and sets the desired filter to the light source. In the optical printer that performs writing, the print head includes: a filter holder that holds the filter; and a base on which the light source is provided, and a guide groove portion in which the filter holder is movably engaged in the sub-scanning direction. And a ratchet machine rotatably provided on the base and having on its surface a guide pin for selectively switching the filter. A rod-shaped operating body provided on the base so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction and rotating the ratchet mechanism when moved in the sub-scanning direction; and formed on the filter holder along the main scanning direction. And an elongate hole with which the guide pin engages.